Trap-gun



(No Model.) S- BRKBR` TRAP GUN-` NO. 509,716. Patented Nov. 28, 1893,

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MILAN s. BARKER, or EUGENE, OREGON.

TRAP- GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,716, dated November 28, 1898.

Application tiled March 9, 1893.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, MILAN S. BARKER, of Eugene, in the county ot Lane and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Trap-Gun, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved trap gun, which is simple and durable in construction, very eective in operation, and arranged to automatically shoot and kill animals trapped by it.

The invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ot' this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure lis a plan view of theimprovement folded up. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan View of the improvement. Fig/tis atransverse section of the same on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the breech end of the barrel.

The improved trap gun is provided with a barrel A provided on one side with a bolt B engaging the fork end C of a postCadapted to be set in the ground to support the barrel A, a suitable distance above the ground and in any desired angular position. By screwing up the nut of the bolt B the members of the fork C' are pressed toward each other so as to securely hold the barrel A in the desired position on the upper end of the post C.

On the breech end of the barrel A is held removably a breech blockD made in the shape of a cap titting over the end ofthe barreland provided on opposite sides with L-shaped notches D adapted to be engaged by lugs E projecting from the barrel A diametrically opposite each other, as plainly shown in the drawings. It will be seen that by this arrangement the breech block D can be readily removed from the barrel A, by givinga short turn to the breech block to move the longitudinal part of the notches Din alignment with the lugs E and then pulling the breech the barrel.

In order to hold the breech block D in a Serial No. 465,271. (No model.)

locked position at the time the`lugs E are e11- gaged in the transverse part of the notches `D', as shown in Figs. l and 4, I provide a spring F secured by an eye bolt or rivet Gto the outside of the breech block D, the free end of the said spring passing through an aperture D2 in the breech block to engage notches A', A2, formed in the breech end of the barrel A, as "plainly shown in Fig. 5. The inner free end F of the spring F is adapted to travel from one notch A to the other notch A2 at the time the breech block D is put on the barrel A in the manner above described, so that when the lugsE engage the transverse part of the notches D', then the end Frests in the notch A2, thus holding and lockingthe breech block to the barrel A.

The extreme inner end F of the spring F is adapted to engage the rim of the cartridge fired in the barrel A, so that when the breech block D is removed after tiring, the said spring F serves as a cartridge extractor, the cartridge then being held in the breech block on removing the same from the barrel, thus withdrawing the cartridge from the latter. The eye bolt or rivet G for securing the spring F to the breech block forms a bearing for a bait rod I-I extending forwardly alongside the barrel A to pass through a second bearing G near the muzzle end of the barrel to finally extend a suitable distance beyond the muzzle end, as plainly shown in the drawings.

The forward pointed end of the bait rod H is provided with eyes H or other suitable devices for securely holding the bait in place on the end of the rod projecting beyond the muzzle of the barrel. The rear end of the bait rod I-I is connected with one end of the trigger I pivoted at I in an extension D3 formed on one sideof the breech block D. The swinging movement ot the trigger I is limited by the end I2 engaging a slot D4 formed in one end of the extension D3, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. l and 3.

In the extension D3 in front of the trigger' I is pivoted at J the hammerJ provided with a tiring pin K adapted to pass through a tiring hole D5 in the end of the breech block D to tire the cartridge located in the barrel A, and abutting against the end of the breech block in the usual manner. A spring L is held with one end in the breech block below IOO the opening D4 in the `extension D3 and connects at the other end with the hammer J and stands in alignment with the pivot J at the time the hammer is cocked as shown -in Fig. 3. The spring serves to swing the hammer J inwardly to move the firing pin K in Contact with the cartridge to fire the same whenever the hammer is suiiiciently started inward to move the spring out of alignment with the pivot J of the hammer.

The front end J2of the hainmerJ is adapted to frbe engagedby a projection Ii'3 formed on the trigger I, and serving to start the hammer on its inward movement over a central position to cause the spring L to nally force the hammer inward to fire the cartridge, if the rod be pushed as hereinafter mentioned. The outward swinging motion of the hammer J is limited by a set screw N held in the trigger I. The free end of the hammer J'is also adapted to be engaged on its back byacurved extension H3 formed on the rear end H2 of the rod H, so that in case the rod H is pulled instead of being pushed, the said extension-H3 engages the back of the hammer J, to start the saine inward until it passes a central position to cause the spring L to finish the movement of the hammer for firing the cartridge. The end H2 of the rod H extends through an elongated vlongitudinally-extending slot I4 in the trigger I,.so that the rod H can be moved forward without disturbing the position of the trigger I, at the same time moving the extension H3 in contact with the hammer J to start the same, as above described. When, however, a rearward push is exerted on the rod H by the animal striking the pointed end H thereof, then the rear end H2 imparts an outward swinging motion to the trigger I so that the projection I3 acting on the end J2 of the hammer J starts the same in its inward swinging motion for tiring, as above described.

Now, when the barrel A is loaded and set.

in the proper position above the ground and the hammer J is set ready for tiring as illustrated in Fig. 3, then a pull or push exerted on the rod H by the animal engaging the front end of the rod causes the hammer J to swing inward to fire the cartridge, thus shootl ing the animal, as the latter stands at the muzzle end of the barrel. The'operator can conveniently reload the gun by removing the breech block D in the manner above described, tlius extracting the cartridge, then inserting: a new cartridge, and again placing the breech block in position. The hammer J is then swung outward beyond its-central poboth ends of a-cap-like breech block inclosing the breech, removable therefrom and carrying the tiring mechanism, and a means for releasing the firing mechanism, substantially as forth.

2. The combination with the barrel provided with a removable cap-like breech block connected therewith by a bayonet joint, ofthe `firing mechanism carried by the said block,

and means for releasing the tiring mechanism, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination with .the barrel of the removable cap-like breech block connected therewith by a bayonet joint, -of a spring for preventing the rotation of the snaidl block on the breech, substantially as set iorth.

4. The combination with the barrel and its removable breech block, of a combined locking and shell extracting spring carried by the block to lock the same against accidental displacement and extract the'shell by the act of removing the block, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the barrel, of the hammer J, pivoted to the breech thereofl a plate spring L engaging the hammer on its inner edge above its pivot, to hold the haininer swung outward and also to project it inwardly for ring, a trigger mechanism limiting the outward movement of the hammer and also adapted to .impart the initial inward movement thereto and a bait holder connected to the trigger substantially as set forth.

6. fllhe combination with the barrel,.of the hammer pivoted to the breech thereof,a spring bearing on the hammer in front of andabove its pivot to hold it retracted and also to project it, a trigger pivoted above the hammer and provided with a projection I3 engaging IOO the upper end J2 of the hammer; the said Y triggei` extending down along the back .of the hammer and provided with a transverse slot I4V below the lower endof the trigger, and the bait rod having a laterally bent end extending through said slot I4 and provided with an extension H3, engaging the lower vend of the trigger, substantially as set forth.

' 7. The combination with the hammer J pivoted atJand having a spring L to throw it and also to hold it retracted and the trigger I pivoted at I and extending downward along the back of the hammer to a point therebelow; the trigger being provided with a -set screw N limiting the outward movement of the hainmer lagainst the action of its spring and a bait rod connected with the lower end of the trigger, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the cap like breech block D provided with parallel longitudinal flanges D3 D3 and having a slot D4, of the hammer J pivoted near its upper end between said flanges, a spring L lengaging the hammer above and in front lof its pivot to hold it retracted and also to throw it, the trigger I pivoted at I between the flanges and extending down along the back of the hammer; the forward extremity I2` of the trigger entering the slot D4 and its projection I3 en- IIO gaging the upper end J 2 ofthe trigger, and a bait rod connected with the lower end of the trigger, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the hammer of a spring engaging the hammer in front of and above its pivot to throw it and also to hold it when swungoutward till the end of the spring and the pivot are about in line, means for limiting such outward movement of the harnmer and releasing mechanism engaging the hammer to move it inwardly until the end of the spring passes upwardly beyond the hammer pivot, substantially as set forth. 

